The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday slammed Jamathul Ulama Sabha, jamath of Tamil Nadu’s Theni district, for issuing fatwa against the judges of a constitutional court and calling them kafir, reports The New Indian Express.

“This court places on record its strong disapproval of the Fatwa issued by the Jamath in Theni district denigrating the judiciary and chastising Naseema’s father for having approached the secular courts established by law for getting their grievances redressed...,” Justice PN Prakash observed in his order.

“The fatwa was denigrating the judiciary. If Jamaths are going to replace existing courts, the first casualty will be the Bar,” Justice Prakash added.

The jamath (congregation of Muslims) had issued a fatwa last September against a woman’s father for having approached the High Court to obtain an interim stay on triple talaq pronounced by her estranged husband.

Jamaathul Ulama Sabha had condemned the move, stating in its fatwa that Naseema’s father “ought not to have (sic) gone to the High Court where Kafir judges are passing orders against Islamic and Quranic injunctions and that the Jamath will not permit the High Court to pass any such wrong orders.”